Study Desk

Doeth not Wisedome crie? & Understanding put foorth her voice?

Shee standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the pathes.

She cryeth at the gates, at the entrie of the citie, at the comming in at the doores.

Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sonnes of man.

O yee simple, vnderstand wisedome: and yee fooles, be yee of an vnderstanding heart.

Heare, for I will speake of excellent things: and the opening of my lippes shalbe right things.

For my mouth shall speake truth, and wickednesse is an abomination to my lippes.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousnes, there is nothing froward or peruerse in them.

They are all plaine to him that vnderstandeth: and right to them that find knowledge.

Receiue my instruction, and not siluer: and knowledge rather then choise gold.

For wisedome is better then rubies: and all the things that may be desired, are not to be compared to it.

I wisedome dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inuentions.

The feare of the Lord is to hate euill: pride and arrogancie, and the euill way, and the froward mouth doe I hate.

Counsell is mine, and sound wisedome: I am vnderstanding, I haue strength.

By me kings reigne, and princes decree iustice.

By me Princes rule, and Nobles, euen all the Iudges of the earth.

I loue them that loue me, and those that seeke me early, shall find me.

Riches and honour are with me, yea durable riches and righteousnesse.

My fruite is better then gold, yea then fine gold, and my reuenue then choise siluer.

I leade in the way of righteousnesse, in the midst of the pathes of iudgment.

That I may cause those that loue me, to inherite substance: and I will fill their treasures.

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

I was set vp from euerlasting, from the beginning, or euer the earth was.

When there were no depthes, I was brought forth: when there were no fountaines abounding with water.

Before the mountaines were setled: before the hilles, was I brought foorth:

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

When hee prepared the heauens, I was there: when he set a compasse vpon the face of the depth.

When he established the cloudes aboue: when he strengthned the fountaines of the deepe.

When he gaue to the sea his decree, that the waters should not passe his commandement: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Then I was by him, as one brought vp with him: and I was daily his delight, reioycing alwayes before him:

Reioycing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sonnes of men.

Nowe therefore hearken vnto me, O yee children: for blessed are they that keepe my wayes.

Heare instruction, and bee wise, and refuse it not.

Blessed is the man that heareth me: watching daily at my gates, waiting at the postes of my doores.

For whoso findeth mee, findeth life, and shall obtaine fauour of the Lord.

But hee that sinneth against me, wrongeth his owne soule; all they that hate me, loue death.

Wisedome hath builded her house: she hath hewen out her seuen pillars.

She hath killed her beastes; she hath mingled her wine: she hath also furnished her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens; she cryeth vpon the highest places of the citie.

Who so is simple, let him turne in hither: as for him that wanteth vnderstanding, she sayth to him:

Come, eate of my bread, and drinke of the wine, which I haue mingled.

Forsake the foolish, and liue; and goe in the way of vnderstanding.